COLIN Montgomerie can put his clubs away for the next three weeks after failing to find the inspiration to boost his world ranking in the TCL Classic in China.

The 41-year-old Scot needed to finish no worse than second to qualify for The Players' Championship, which starts at Sawgrass on Thursday, and the first Major of the year - next month's US Masters.

But Montgomerie had to be content with sixth, while his Ryder Cup team-mates Paul Casey and Paul McGinley slugged it out in a play-off at Yalong Bay.

The Englishman despatched the Irishman at the second extra hole to win his fourth European Tour title. The pair ended the regulation 72 holes on 22- under-par, two better than Monty.

Casey had a putt from 15 feet to win outright on the final green but left the effort agonisingly short and he had to settle for a closing 66.

But he made no mistake in the play-off, holing a majestic 25-foot birdie putt from the back of the green.

"I felt I played good golf all week. I felt quite at home here," said Casey.

"One of the keys to my success this week was my driving. Nike built me a new driver and it has been hitting the ball silly distances, but thankfully straight as well, and that gave me an advantage. A lot has been written about me off the course and I also had a back injury which meant I had to miss a few tournaments. But hopefully now this can get people talking about my golf and I am looking forward to The Players Championship next week."

It was tough luck on McGinley, who produced stunning golf over the final round to give himself a chance of victory.

Starting the day in a share of 10th place, he stormed up the leaderboard with a nine-under-par 63, which matched the course record.

"It is really disappointing to shoot 63 in the last round and lose. I gave it my best shot, but it wasn't meant to be," said McGinley.

Meanwhile, Shaw Hill's Nick Dougherty, one of 10 out the 14 Europeans to make the cut in the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, tied 40th on level par as American Kenny Perry won on 12-under.

DAVID Shacklady, fresh from his victory in last week's Huddersfield pro-am, starts favourite to win the third event in the Lancashire and Cheshire at North Wales Golf Club today. The Mossock Hall man is among 41 professionals battling for honours, among them Mobberley's Jon Cheetham.